An ACL Div. 5 classic in Springfield on Tuesday evening that produced the aggregate total of 7-34 to keep the supporters entertained. The St Loman's supporters went home the happiest with the two league points secured but Gaelic football was the real winner on this occasion. It was also the night that Criostóir Ormsby made his maiden voyage in adult football. Unfortunately it was cut short as an arm injury forced Criostóir out midway through the first half but not before he had registered a score on his debut.
The sides were level 2-8 to 1-11 at the interval with Trevor Keena hitting a couple of two pointers as hit six first-half points. Tommy Daly too was alert and ended the half with 1-1 to his credit. The birthday boy's goal was neatly finished; Andrew Shaw added a point as did Darragh Hughes and Niall Hannigan before Mick Gordon blew the half-time whistle.
It was also a feature of this match that Mick had rarely to blow the whistle as fouls were at a minimum - the cynic might say that was because nobody was tackling given the high scoring rate but that would be unfair to the spirit of the game. Rarely in a long refereeing career has Mick's whistle been so silent - a reflection on the manner in which both mentors and players approached the game on the night.
Tommy Daly and Matthew Shaw exchanged points with James Coffey to maintain parity (2-10 to 1-13) before Sean Plunkett edged St Loman's ahead with one of the points of the night when he travelled beyond his own half-way line beating several players before pointing. Ross Corroon equalised. Sean Plunkett and James Coffey stretched St Loman's to a two point lead before points from Ross Corroon and Matthew Shaw equalised again (2-13 to 1-16).
A John Casey goal for St Loman's and a Frank Kavanagh point opened a vital gap for the boys in blue but Shamrocks weren't finished. Andrew Shaw's goal cut the deficit to the minimum (both Shaw brothers excelled on the night) but points from James Coffey, Frank Kavanagh and Sean Plunkett restored the four point St Loman's margin. Conor Fagan replied with a Shamrocks goal but in a final flourish, Sean Plunkett pointed again and with the final attack, Tom Dorr goaled to give St Loman's a five-point victory.
Mullingar Shamrocks: Liam English, Ben McNamee, Conor Fitzpatrick, Eamonn Breslin; Ronan Byrne, Jack Kelly, Callum Rigney (Dónal Lane); Criostóir Ormsby (0-1) [Niall Hannigan,0-1], Ciaran Kiernan; Andrew Shaw (1-1), Trevor Keena (0-6) [Caoilin Walsh], Jack Toal (Matthew Shaw, 0-2); Darragh Hughes (0-1) [Conor Fagan, 1-0], Ross Corroon (0-2), Tommy Daly (1-2).
